LASER louts have been dazzling residents on Oxford’s largest estate by shining the powerful beams of light into their homes.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gerry Webb said he had received seven reports in the past three weeks of laser pens being shone inside houses, scaring pensioners and families.

Mr Webb said victims had described reporting seeing beams of coloured light coming through their front doors, bedroom and living room windows.

He said it made people, particularly elderly residents, feel intimidated as he urged the culprits to think twice.

Last night police warned of how lasers can damage eye sight.

Mr Webb said: “I would rather not give the road names where it’s happening because they might target those people.

“It’s happened across the Leys.

“They really don’t realise the dangers that lasers can do.

“The laser lights can reflect from different angles when they shine on to glass and can go into people’s eyes and damage sight.

“People said they are scared of the lights.

“A lot of people on the estate are elderly and a lot of them have cataracts and bad eyes and they are aware of the laser pens and what they can do to sight.”

He added: “There is no reason why people other than teachers should need to have them.

“They are laser pointers to point at charts and white boards in conferences and classes.

“They are not even a torch.

“I think these people should stop and think what they are doing.

“If someone points it at you, it’s going to your sight and it might come back and affect the person too.”

In October last year, the Oxford Mail reported that laser pens had been shone at two planes in the skies above Oxfordshire, with police warning pilots could be blinded and hundreds of lives endangered.

Teenager Jamir Ali, of Leon Close, was given 200 hours community work after shining one at the police helicopter above East Oxford.

Blackbird Leys neighbourhood sergeant Rob Axe urged residents to report incidents as soon as possible.

Sgt Axe said: “There is potential for serious injury to people’s eyes.

“If they are shone through windows there is a possibility it will reflect off mirrors and in to people’s eyes.

“If it has happened to you please let us know.

“If people are deliberately shining it into people’s faces there is a potential assault charge.”